1
as in ripped
to cause (something) to separate into jagged pieces by violently pulling at it
angrily tore the letter to shreds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in grabbed
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
tore the book from his hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sped
to proceed or move quickly
she tore out of the room as soon as the phone started to ring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of torn
The story follows a young man torn between two women — one virtuous and one not so virtuous, whose powerful attraction takes hold of him.
—
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
But backers have yet to attract a factory, leaving a township torn by distrust and lawmakers demanding answers.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—William Earl, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Armed with my beloved buns (one already torn into) the rest of the flight slipped by, until New York’s piercing skyline came firmly into view.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Kyrie Irving has maintained a steady presence around the Mavericks despite not playing this season because of his torn left ACL, but his team has missed his offensive production, especially in late-game situations.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
The two are joined by a cheeky girl named Mickie, who comes from a home torn by alcoholism.
—The Know, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón, now on his fourth feature, has settled into an ecstatic style that feels naturally torn from his father’s cloth, but with a signature stamp of his own on border-crossing stories.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The film follows a Circassian circus troupe in New Jersey and centers on a young wrestler (Talha Akdogan) torn between his father’s restaurant and the troupe’s high-wire acts.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
But backers have yet to attract a factory, leaving a township torn by distrust and lawmakers demanding answers.
—CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
Things are kept mostly under wraps in this trailer, which spotlights the family vibe and the gnawing concern that something isn’t right, alongside jarring footage of a suburban street torn asunder.
—William Earl, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
Armed with my beloved buns (one already torn into) the rest of the flight slipped by, until New York’s piercing skyline came firmly into view.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
Kyrie Irving has maintained a steady presence around the Mavericks despite not playing this season because of his torn left ACL, but his team has missed his offensive production, especially in late-game situations.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 24 Mar. 2026
The two are joined by a cheeky girl named Mickie, who comes from a home torn by alcoholism.
—The Know, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Mexican filmmaker Jonás Cuarón, now on his fourth feature, has settled into an ecstatic style that feels naturally torn from his father’s cloth, but with a signature stamp of his own on border-crossing stories.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The film follows a Circassian circus troupe in New Jersey and centers on a young wrestler (Talha Akdogan) torn between his father’s restaurant and the troupe’s high-wire acts.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torn
Verb
-
The words could have been ripped from Davie’s final speech.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Thieves broke the windows of several cars in Lakeview and ripped out the airbags from the steering wheels.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shamet was fouled on the play and missed the and-one free throw, but second-year backup big man Ariel Hukporti grabbed the offensive rebound to create a second shot opportunity.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Walmart grabbed 23% of the market share last year, the same as in 2024.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sharma sped to 50 off 23 balls.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The Jeep driver slammed on the breaks and reversed, crashing into the front of Acosta’s patrol car and sped off, leaving the gate pieces on the road.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel drew walks, sandwiched around a Trout single, and then Soler yanked a three-run double down the left field line.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Minnesota starter Taj Bradley struck out nine over 4 1/3 innings, but was yanked after throwing 92 pitches.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Alabama raced out to a 24-point halftime lead en route to a 90-65 win over Texas Tech in the second round.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
China's cyberspace regulator has raced to regulate the rapidly growing field in recent years, but struggled to stay ahead of a technology that is advancing faster than the rules designed to govern it.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Max Verstappen snatched the torch from Lewis Hamilton and became one of the most unstoppable Formula 1 drivers in the sport from 2021 to 2024.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
This is the same person who cut off dribble-drives in a second-half effort that shut down Minnesota in the Sweet 16, who snatched a pass that was nearly out of bounds for a layup.—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My parents’ friends David Gilbert and Kathy Boudin had driven a getaway truck in that robbery.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Fear has driven many Americans to claim Social Security early.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The North Huntingdon Township Police Department said the homeowner pulled a gun on the utility worker, who was sent to shut off service, and chased him away from his home on Water Street in Ardara.—
Erika Stanish,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
When Tree City Juice & Smoothie Cafe pulled the plug on its two brick-and-mortar restaurants last year, the closures hit home for Bethany Anderson.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torn. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
